The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant Richard Wayne Mullen (MCSN: 0-93384), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Commander with Company K, Third Battalion, Fourth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on 28 September 1966. During Operation PRAIRIE in Quang Tri Province, Second Lieutenant Mullen led the fifth and final assault on well fortified North Vietnamese Army bunkers located on Hill 400. Realizing the importance of destroying the enemy positions, which had prevented his Battalion from taking the hill for two days, Second Lieutenant Mullen completely disregarded his own safety to lead two other Marines in an assault on the mutually supporting fortifications. Armed with a rifle and two grenades, he bravely crawled forward to within ten meters of the North Vietnamese positions. Unhesitatingly, and with uncommon courage, he threw his grenades, destroying an enemy machine gun position, initiating the attack. Fearlessly exposing himself to intense enemy automatic weapons fire and grenades, he skillfully deployed his men and directed their fire, enabling reinforcements to advance up the hill. When the enemy began a vicious counterattack from three sides, Second Lieutenant Mullen repeatedly exposed himself to withering fire to move among his men, distributing ammunition, directing their fire, insuring medical assistance for the wounded and rallying them to repulse the determined enemy. In the fierce two hour fire fight that followed, his heroic actions and inspiring leadership were instrumental in the successful completion of his unit’s mission. By his fearless determination, initiative and loyal devotion to duty, Second Lieutenant Mullen upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.